Movable target describing an oval path

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for playing a game where the object of the game is to toss a ball through an opening in a moving target. The target is supported on one end of a rod and the other end of said rod is connected to a rotating crank shaft. The connection is a sliding bearing relationship, and a support intermediate the ends of the rod allow it to reciprocate as the crank shaft turns. The target is a face and the opening is the mouth in the face. The combination of the intermediate support and the rotating crank shaft allows the face to move in a roughly oval path in a vertical plane as the opposite end of the rod is moving in a circular path; and because of the reciprocation, the length of the lever arm between the crank shaft and the support is continuously changing.

United States Patent [191 Osak et al. A

[ Nov. 6, 1973 22 Filed: July 25,197: 211 Appl.No.:274,9 92

[52] US. Cl. 273/1 05 .2, 40/lO6.41 [51] Int. Cl F4lj 9/00 [58] Field of Search 273/102 R, 105 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,336,030 8/1967 Martel] 273/10 52 3,066,938 12/1962 Walz.'. 273/105.2

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Att0rneySidney W. Millard ABSTRACT Apparatus for playing a game where the object of the game is to toss aball through an opening in a moving target. The target is supported on one end ofa rod and the other end of said rod is connected to a rotating crank shaft. The connection is a sliding bearing relationship', and a support intermediate the ends of the rod allow it to reciprocate as the crank shaft turns. The target is a face and the opening is the mouth in the face. The combination of the intermediate support and the rotating crank shaft allows the face to move in a roughly oval path in a vertical plane as the opposite end of the rod is moving in a circular path; and because of the reciprocation, the length of the lever arm between the crank shaft and the support is continuously changing.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PMENTEDHHY el 3770.274

SHEET ll]? 2 PATENTED NOV 6 \975 SHEET 20F 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Innumerable games comprising a moving target for a tossed ball have been devised over the years. Many of extreme ends of the movement pattern, at which time 1 I the target is hardly moving at all, thus making it an easy mark for the observant player. However, some times these extreme ends are blocked off by different mechanisms and at times when the target is open to the player it is moving extremely fast and appears quite difficult to the participant; thus, the players may be reluctant to try the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The instant invention has overcome these aesthetic problems and provided an apparatus which moves the target in a very slow and continuous path which looks extremely easy to the player. Itis, in fact, not difficult but it is not as easy to win as it would first appear.

The path traversed by the target in the instant invention is somewhat egg-shaped, but because of the unique design of the apparatus, the apparent movement of the face is relatively continuous when observed by a player, while in fact the particular structure involved has a continuously changing velocity throughout the movement of the target through the endless path. This fact of changing velocities makes the game both difficult and at the same time exciting because of the apparent ease of winning.

The apparatus itself includes a crank shaft at the rear of the game on which are mounted a plurality of sliding bearings, the bearings being mounted on the offset portions of the crank shaft. The bearings and their clamps connect a plurality of rods to the shaft, and on the opposite ends of the rodsare the aforementioned targets.

Intermediate the ends of each rod is a support which is stationary with .respectto the axis of rotation of the crank shaft. Because it is stationary, it-helps in providing the kind of continuously changing velocities desirable for the game. Therotating crank shaft and the stationary support continuously change the length of the lever arm be-tween the rod attachment to the crank shaftand the support, thereby continuously changing the relative movement ratio between the ends of the rods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game as it appears in operating condition;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of one of the targets;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of thecrank shaft, attached rods, driving motor, and support means as are contained in the enclosed box illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view partially in section of the apparatus of FIG. 1, and particularly showing the path traversed by the target'inone complete revolution of the crank shaft.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring particularly to FIG. 1, the game of the instant invention includes balls 10 which will be thrown by a player at moving targets 12. Each of the targets is identical to the others, and for convenience, only one will be described in detail. However, it should be stated that it is anticipated that the game will be manufactured in units of three targets per unit, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and the targets themselves could be' of diverse shape if desired.

Each target includes an opening 14, through which the balls 10 are to be tossed. One pitching a ball through the opening 14 is considered to bea winner. Because there is no need to maintain the ball-in the target area, a transversely extending chute leading from the opening 14 to a side door 16 at one side of the box 18 immediately behind the target 12 is provided, which allows the ball to roll down the chute, out of the open-" ing 14. It will be recognized by those having ordinary skill in the art that this particular embodiment is merely illustrative and the particular design or painting on the front of the target is purely optional. Clearly the same concept, as will be appreciated subsequently, would be accomplished by'a'bulls eye or any other type of target, or no painting at all simply the opening 14.

Similarly, it willbe observed that in FIG. 1 the game is illustrated as being supported on legs and having side bars along the sides of the floor 20. This is also optional equipment and need not necessarily be incorporated in the structure to'includethe inventive concept, as will be explained subsequently. By way of example, it is anticipated that the apparatus of this invention could be incorporated into a trailer with the front of the game being accessible through the side of the trailer which could be completely open.

. FIG. 1 illustrates a box 22 at the rear of the apparatus and the targets are supported on rods 24 which project through apertures 26 in the front vertical side of said box. The rods may in fact be tubing or pipe structure rather than solid metal bars; in fact, the lighter the structure, the better it will operate because of the lighter weight, easier movement and lower power input to manipulate and move the targets.

Turning to FIGS. 4 and 5, the internal mechanical structure of the apparatus on the inside of the box is illustrated. It includes a crank shaft 28 mounted on brackets 30 at each end of the box and driven by a motor 32 in a conventional V-belt connection.

It will be appreciated that the motor is designed to run slow and the appropriate sizes of pulleys are incorporated to insure that the crank shaft rotates only at about 4-6 r.p.m., although the device could operate at be formed of a plurality of tubing or pipe sections and threaded elbows appropriately screwed and/or welded together to form the crank shaft. It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that this is but one of many ways to provide the kind of mechanical element desired which is to provide an eccentric pivot point which rotates about a substantially horizontal axis in order to move the rods 24 back and forth in accordance with a predetermined pattern illustrated by the broken lines 34 in FIG. 5. To achieve this pattern, an intermediate support bar 36 is provided inside the box immediately to the rear of the opening 26 which supports the rod 24 against gravity intermediate its ends. The bar inthis case is shown as a 2X4. However, this is merely illustrative of innumerable types of supports which could be incorporated. The holes 26 keep the rods 24 properly aligned in the forward direction, but it will be appreciated that the holes 26 could be horizontal slots and the bar 36 could include a firm attachment to the rod 24 and include a crank about which the rod 24 could pivot about a vertical axis in response to the rotation of the crank shaft 28 and in that way provide another dimension of movement of the target 12. This feature is not illustrated but is within the inventive concept.

The rod 24 is illustrated as being connected to the crank shaft 28 by a T-shaped element clamped around and in sliding relationship with the crank shaft. The structure is illustrated very broadly because the particular type of connection is not critical to this invention. The only requirement is that there be a rigid connection and that the connecting member be allowed to rtate relative to the crank shaft so as to draw that end of the rod in the circular pattern defined by the rotating crank shaft. Whether the clamp itself is T-shaped, U- shaped, mounted on ball bearings, or innumerable other structures is immaterial so long as the result is as described below.

In operation, the motor 32 is started which in turn rotates the crank shaft 28. This in turn pushes and pulls various rods 24 as the connecting members slide rotationally withrespect to the crank shaft. The rods slide backward or forward on the support bar 36 and through openings 26 in the front of the box 22. This in turn moves the target 12 at the front or distal end of the rod 24, in a curved endless path 34. The path traversed by the target is roughly illustrated in FIG. 5, and the shape 34 is not circular or elliptical as might be imagined because of the changing length of the lever arm between the connection to the crank shaft and the point of contact between the rod 24 and the support bar 36. This is an important feature of the invention, in that, the path traversed is a continuously changing curve always having a component of movement vertically and horizontally except at the four extreme points at the upper and lower and front and rear extremes of the path. These, of course, are only infinitesimal points and, except for those minute locations, the changing velocity or acceleration of the target will tend to make it more difficult for the player at the front of the apparatus to toss a ball through the opening 14. Additionally, to minimize null points in the target movement, the rod and support bar are so proportioned that the angle subtended by the rod at its extreme points does not exceed about 60.

The game is made more difficult by the particular path traversed. This is true because the magnitude of the change in velocity is not constant but is continually changing, which of course contrasts with a circular pattern where the change in velocity is constant. This unusual trajectory or continuous path defined by the target is accomplished by the rotating crank shaft and the constantly changing distance between the rear end of the rod 24 and the point of support by the support bar 36 and because of this manipulation and movement of the rod, both sliding perpendicularly to the support bar 36 and also pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the rod 24, there is a continuous pivoting and sliding but the magnitude of the sliding and pivoting is continuously changing.

While the game is stated to be difficult and is calculated to be so in the usual course of events, it is obvious that the game can be made more easy or more difficult by the size of the opening 14 relative to the size of the ball 10. A small ball and a large opening can make easy winners by very small children at charity projects for children, whereas in fund raising events for charity by service clubs and the like where players are not really concerned about winning but wish only to enjoy themselves while donating to charitable institutions, the balls 10 might be relatively large and the holes 14 relatively small so as to minimize the number of winners. Certainly, this apparatus couldalso be assembled in the home or in amusement parks and the game played by any number or in any manner consistent with what is described above.

Having thus described the invention and its preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art that certain modifications could be made in the structure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. However, the inventors do not intend to be bound by the specific language or the embodiment illustrated herein, but intend that the invention be limited only by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for playing a game, said game comprising trying to toss a ball through an opening in a moving target, said apparatus including at least one target, at least one rod, a crank shaft means, means for turning said crank shaft means and support means for said rod,

said target being attached to one end of said rod and comprising a substantially planar surface defining an opening, said planar surface extending transverse'to a linedefining the axis of said rod,

the other end of said rod being attached in sliding relationship to an offset portion of said crank shaft means,

support means intermediate said rod ends engaging said rod for supporting said rod as it reciprocates and rotates about said support means,

the rod, turning crank shaft means and support means combining to move said target inan endless path always having positive or negative components of movement both upward and forward except for four infinitesimal points in the path, said points being the uppermost and lowermost points and the forwardmost and rearmost points in the path. a

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the path traversed by said target in a vertical plane is at all points curved but not circular.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the support means is station-ary with respectto the axis of rotation of said crank shaft means thereby providing a continuously changing length in the portion of the rod between the support means and the crank shaft means as the crank shaft means turns.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the angle subtended by the extreme upper and lower positions of the front portion of said rod is not substantially greater than about 60.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the target comprises a painted facewith the mouth being the opening, said target extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rod.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the angle subtended by the extreme upper and lower positions of the front portion of said rod is not substantially greater than about 60.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support means is stationary with respect to the axis of rotation of said crank shaft means thereby providing a continu- 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the target comprises a painted facewith the mouth being the opening, said target extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rod. 

1. Apparatus for playing a game, said game comprising trying to toss a ball through an opening in a moving target, said apparatus including at least one target, at least one rod, a crank shaft means, means for turning said crank shaft means and support means for said rod, said target being attached to one end of said rod and comprising a substantially planar surface defining an opening, said planar surface extending transverse to a line defining the axis of said rod, the other end of said rod being attached in sliding relationship to an offset portion of said crank shaft means, support means intermediate said rod ends engaging said rod for supporting said rod as it reciprocates and rotates about said support means, the rod, turning crank shaft means and support means combining to move said target in an endless path always having positive or negative components of movement both upward and forward except for four infinitesimal points in the path, said points being the uppermost and lowermost points and the forwardmost and rearmost points in the path.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the path traversed by said target in a vertical plane is at all points curved but not circular.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the support means is station-ary with respect to the axis of rotation of said crank shaft means thereby providing a continuously changing length in the portion of the rod between the support means and the crank shaft means as the crank shaft means turns.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the angle subtended by the extreme upper and lower positions of the front portion of said rod is not substantially greater than about 60*.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the target comprises a painted face with the mouth being the opening, said target extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rod.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the angle subtended by the extreme upper and lower positions of the front portion of said rod is not substantially greater than about 60*.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support means is stationary with respect to the axis of rotation of said crank shaft means thereby providing a continuously changing length in the portion of the rod between the support means and the crank shaft means as the crank shaft means turn.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the angle subtended by the extreme upper and lower positions of the front portion of said rod is not substantially greater than about 60*.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the angle subtended by the extreme upper and lower positions of the front portion of said rOd is not substantially greater than about 60*.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the target comprises a painted face with the mouth being the opening, said target extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rod. 